Tonight's season finale has been canceled due to rain. 

Thanks to all the great fans, sponsors, drivers and teams for a GREAT 2017 season! We'll see you in the spring of 2018 for another year of racing!

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 9, 2017) – The 11th annual John Seitz Memorial at River Cities Speedway concluded with the third running of the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Challenge, featuring the NOSA Sprint Cars. ​

To start the night, Austin Pierce picked up the dash win and earned the 24th starting position for the Blazin’ Back Row Challenge. Jade Hastings, who finished second in the dash, opted to decline the back row challenge and start on the front row for the 35-lap main event. That allowed Mark Dobmeier a chance at the final back row starting spot, which he immediately accepted.

As the green flag waved over the 24-car starting field, outside front row starter Casey Mack took the point while Hastings and Omdahl battled for second.

In the early going, Thomas Kennedy was the highest running Blazin’ Challenge competitor. Kennedy started 19th and cracked the top 10 on lap four. Kennedy, who won the previous night’s main event reached as high as fifth before he slid of the embankment in turn two to bring out a yellow.

Mark Dobmeier was the man on the move after that. The Grand Forks, N.D. driver wheeled his way up to second by lap nine before moving by Mack for the lead on lap 11.

Once out front, Dobmeier couldn’t be touched.

In the late going, the track started to take rubber, but that didn’t slow Dusty Zomer. Zomer also took the Blazin’ Challenge and started 22nd on the field and reached the second position with six to go.

However, he couldn’t do anything with Dobmeier in the final laps as River Cities Speedway’s winningest driver cruised to the biggest NOSA payday in the series’ 23-year history.

Zomer, Mack, Omdahl, and Tom Egeland rounded out the top five.

RESULTS:
A Feature 1 (35 Laps): 1. 13-Mark Dobmeier, [23]; 2. 82-Dusty Zomer, [22]; 3. 8-Casey Mack, [2]; 4. 0-Nick Omdahl, [3]; 5. 14-Tom Egeland, [9]; 6. 20G-Lee Grosz, [4]; 7. 17B-Ryan Bickett, [6]; 8. 6N-Greg Nikitenko, [5]; 9. 8H-Jade Hastings, [1]; 10. 26-Blake Egeland, [17]; 11. 31-Shane Roemeling, [16]; 12. 99-Jordan Graham, [7]; 13. 91M-Jackson Moffett, [11]; 14. 24-Jon Sorenson, [19]; 15. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, [15]; 16. 9N-Wade Nygaard, [12]; 17. 6-Zach Wilde, [13]; 18. 13T-Ty Hanten, [8]; 19. 21K-Thomas Kennedy, [20]; 20. 4M-Cale Mack, [14]; 21. 10TRB-Bob Martin, [10]; 22. 22-Tanner Wisk, [18]; 23. 2A-Austin Pierce, [24]; 24. 27-Chris Ranten, [21]
B Feature 1 (8 Laps): 1. 31-Shane Roemeling, [6]; 2. 26-Blake Egeland, [5]; 3. 22-Tanner Wisk, [2]; 4. 24-Jon Sorenson, [1]; 5. 2K-Kevin Ingle, [7]; 6. 8C-Jack Croaker, [3]; 7. 12-Brayden Pengilly, [4]
Dash 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2A-Austin Pierce, [2]; 2. 8H-Jade Hastings, [1]; 3. 13-Mark Dobmeier, [3]; 4. 82-Dusty Zomer, [5]; 5. 8-Casey Mack, [8]; 6. 0-Nick Omdahl, [7]; 7. 27-Chris Ranten, [6]; 8. (DNF) 21K-Thomas Kennedy, [4]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 82-Dusty Zomer, [4]; 2. 13T-Ty Hanten, [1]; 3. 17B-Ryan Bickett, [2]; 4. 6-Zach Wilde, [6]; 5. 20G-Lee Grosz, [3]; 6. 8C-Jack Croaker, [7]; 7. 2K-Kevin Ingle, [8]; 8. 24-Jon Sorenson, [5]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 8-Casey Mack, [3]; 2. 99-Jordan Graham, [2]; 3. 0-Nick Omdahl, [4]; 4. 26-Blake Egeland, [8]; 5. 14-Tom Egeland, [1]; 6. 4M-Cale Mack, [5]; 7. 22-Tanner Wisk, [6]; 8. 12-Brayden Pengilly, [7]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 27-Chris Ranten, [4]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard, [6]; 3. 91M-Jackson Moffett, [1]; 4. 6N-Greg Nikitenko, [3]; 5. 31-Shane Roemeling, [8]; 6. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, [5]; 7. 10TRB-Bob Martin, [2]; (DNS) 3M-Marcus Rothenbacher,

​

By Mike Spieker

Nick Koehler of Bloomer, Wis. backed up his runner-up Happy Harry’s Midwest Modified finish on Thursday night with a dominating performance on Saturday. Koehler grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag as he won the drag race into turn one over Nate Reynolds.

Reynolds ran solidly in second until Scott Bintz found his groove and challenged for the runner-up spot. Bintz took the position on lap seven and went to work on Koehler for the lead, but Koehler had already opened up a comfortable lead out front.

In a race that went caution-free, Koehler stretched out his advantage around the halfway point. However, Bintz was able to reel in Koehler as he entered heavy lapped traffic. Bintz was able to get within two seconds of Koehler, but that’s as close as he would get as Koehler cruised to the victory.

Bintz, Reynolds, Mike Nichols, and Austin Hunter rounded out the top five.

With the win, Koehler also won the three-night Midwest Modified point title bonus.

Preston Carr was the hard-charger of the race, advancing from 24th to 11th.

By Mike Spieker

Jordan Tollakson of Montevideo, Minn. claimed a John Seitz Memorial victory for the second year in a row in the Wells Concrete Street Stocks. Tollakson was the only car in the top 10 to venture up to the high side at the drop of the green flag, and he made it work. Tollakson started fourth on the field and ripped around the cushion to move by Dustin Puffe and Aaron Blacklance. From there, the defending WISSOTA Street Stock national champion put Jeff Crouse in his crosshairs.

Tollakson stayed true to the top side and pulled even with Crouse on lap four before taking the point one lap later. Crouse didn’t give up the lead without a fight, however. Crouse remained side by side with Tollakson for four consecutive circuits before Tollakson was able to clear the No. 29 to take sole possession of the lead.

Once out front, Tollakson set sail and checked out from the field to claim his second career River Cities Speedway victory.

Crouse was followed by River Cities regulars Aaron Blacklance and Chase Boen, as South Dakota driver Joe Engels rounded out the top five.

By Mike Spieker

Current WISSOTA Modified national point leader, Ward Imrie, jumped out to the early lead as Ryan Kereluk and Johnny Broking raced for second. By lap eight, Johnson, who started sixth, had reeled in Imrie for the lead.

The two leaders were approaching lapped traffic as Johnson placed a bid for the lead. Johnson moved to the low side of turns one and two and drove underneath Imrie with 16 to go to take command. Once out front, Johnson opened up an eight car length lead, but Imrie had one last charge left in him.

Johnson got held up by lapped traffic on the highside, which left the bottom wide open for Imrie. Imrie was able to pull even with Johnson, but Johnson was able to slam the door shut.

Imrie stayed within striking distance, but Johnson was able to fend him off in the closing laps to take the checkers.

Matt Gilbertson, Broking, and Tyler Peterson, who started 16th, rounded out the top five.

By Mike Spieker
​
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 9, 2017) – The 11th annual John Seitz Memorial came to a close Saturday night with a record 211 cars checked in for action. The night was highlighted by the 92-lap, $9,200-to-win Late Model A-main, which was won by Seitz’s brother-in-law, Don Shaw of Ham Lake, Minn.

Shaw has openly said the John Seitz Memorial was at the top of his list of events he’s wanted to win in his career. He has been close on several prior occasions, but victory lane has always eluded him.

“This is so unbelieveable. This is great,” said Shaw in RydellCars.com Victory Lane. “I would have given this race up for the national points if I had to. This race means so much to me and I tell you what he was riding with me tonight.”

On the initial start, Jeffery Massingill and Jake Redezkte made contact in turn one which resulted in a four car pile up. Redezkte and Dustin Strand, who was also involved in the incident, restarted at the tail of the field.

The Evergreen Insurance restart brought the field back to green, where 2017 NLRA series champion, Ricky Weiss, powered around the outside of AJ Diemel to take the lead. Seitz Memorial rookie, Ryan Mikkelson, made waves early as he moved into the second position briefly before a mechanical failure forced him pitside.

Weiss led the first 10 trips around the three-tenths mile bullring before Shaw, who started fourth, drove underneath him following a restart on lap nine. Weiss tried to battle back as Diemel, Zach Johnson and Joey Pederson all battled within the top five.

Shaw immediately began driving away from the field and ran unchallenged up to the fuel stop on lap 32.

As the race resumed, Diemel drove around Weiss for second, while 21st place starter, John Kaanta, drove around Pederson for fourth. Towards the halfway point of the event, Shaw and Diemel distanced themselves from the rest of the field, which set up a mirror image of last year’s classic battle between the two veteran drivers.

Diemel closed to within one car length of Shaw in lapped traffic and placed a bid for the lead, but Shaw was able to power away once he found open track.

A caution with four to go set up a dramatic finish with Diemel, who was in search of becoming the first driver to win three Seitz Memorial championships, right on the rear bumper of Shaw. Diemel put heavy pressure on Shaw in the final laps, but the driver of the Shaw Trucking No. 42S was up to the challenge. Shaw ran a flawless lap as the white flag flew with Diemel just two car lengths behind. Shaw took the checkered flag to become the ninth John Seitz Memorial winner in its 11-year history.

“I have had just an incredible year. I don’t know if it’s one I could ever repeat,” continued Shaw. “I am just so thrilled to finally, finally get this one down. [John and I] have been competitive since the day we met each other. Everything from snowmobiles to race cars, everything. We did a lot of stuff together.”

Diemel and Weiss rounded out the podium. Scott Ward finished fourth from 15th, as Kaanta rounded out the top five from the 21st starting position. Brad Seng started dead last on the field with a past champion’s provisional and drove through the field to finish sixth. Last chance race winner, Nick Anvelink, finished seventh after starting 25th.

Strand had a notable run after restarting last following the lap one incident. The 2016 WISSOTA Late Model national champion raced through the pack and ran in the top five for the majority of the event, but was involved in a late race incident, which ended his night.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 8, 2017) – Thomas Kennedy started fifth on the 24-car grid for the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car Blazin’ Challenge feature before taking the lead and lapping up to fifth place in the process. ​

It took the driver of the Kennedy Floorings No. 21K exactly half the race to make it up to leaders Nick Omdahl and Austin Pierce, but once he did, he was able to get by them and set sail.

“The car was great. It took me about five laps to get my rhythm going because there was so much going on in front of me,” said Kennedy in RydellCars.com Victory Lane. “I just tried to be patient because you can’t win the race on the first lap. Once I got into cleaner air, I was able to pick them off one by one and take the lead.”

Kennedy took the lead on lap 13 and opened up a sizeable lead while Omdahl and Pierce fought for second. With five to go, Kennedy had nearly a half lap lead over the rest of the field, but the caution flew with four laps remaining. Omdahl, Pierce, and Mark Dobmeier, who started 19th after having to transfer to the B-main because a wreck in his heat, all lined up right on Kennedy’s rear bumper for the restart.

Two laps were completed before another yellow waved. Pierce and Dobmeier were both able to move by Omdahl before the caution was displayed.

“On the restart with four to go, I don’t think I got a very good start because I got tight,” continued Kennedy. “But on the last restart I picked a different time to take off and it seemed to work a lot better for me.”

Pierce and Dobmeier engaged in a heated battle for second as the race went back to green, which allowed Kennedy to open up a 10 car length lead and take the win; his seventh of the season overall. Dobmeier stole second from Pierce at the line as Jade Hastings snuck into the fourth and final transfer spot for Saturday’s $8,200-to-win Blazin’ Challenge.

​A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 21K-Thomas Kennedy, [7]; 2. 13-Mark Dobmeier, [19]; 3. 2A-Austin Pierce, [5]; 4. 8H-Jade Hastings, [4]; 5. 0-Nick Omdahl, [2]; 6. 82-Dusty Zomer, [6]; 7. 6N-Greg Nikitenko, [20]; 8. 27-Chris Ranten, [8]; 9. 20G-Lee Grosz, [1]; 10. 17B-Ryan Bickett, [22]; 11. 8-Casey Mack, [14]; 12. 14-Tom Egeland, [16]; 13. 99-Jordan Graham, [13]; 14. 10TRB-Bob Martin, [11]; 15. 4M-Cale Mack, [24]; 16. 13T-Ty Hanten, [12]; 17. 24-Jon Sorenson, [18]; 18. 22-Tanner Wisk, [21]; 19. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, [15]; 20. 12-Brayden Pengilly, [23]; 21. (DNF) 91M-Jackson Moffett, [9]; 22. (DNF) 6-Zach Wilde, [3]; 23. (DNF) 8C-Jack Croaker, [17]; 24. (DNF) 9N-Wade Nygaard, [10]


B Feature 1: 1. 13-Mark Dobmeier, [8]; 2. 6N-Greg Nikitenko, [10]; 3. 22-Tanner Wisk, [2]; 4. 17B-Ryan Bickett, [7]; 5. 12-Brayden Pengilly, [4]; 6. 4M-Cale Mack, [5]; 7. 2K-Kevin Ingle, [1]; 8. (DNF) 3M-Marcus Rothenbacher, [3]; 9. (DNF) 31-Shane Roemeling, [9]; (DNS) 26-Blake Egeland,
​

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 27-Chris Ranten, [9]; 2. 91M-Jackson Moffett, [1]; 3. 8H-Jade Hastings, [8]; 4. 10TRB-Bob Martin, [6]; 5. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, [4]; 6. (DNF) 26-Blake Egeland, [2]; 7. (DNF) 17B-Ryan Bickett, [3]; 8. (DNF) 13-Mark Dobmeier, [7]; 9. (DNF) 31-Shane Roemeling, [10]; 10. (DNF) 6N-Greg Nikitenko, [5]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 82-Dusty Zomer, [4]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard, [1]; 3. 6-Zach Wilde, [6]; 4. 20G-Lee Grosz, [7]; 5. 8-Casey Mack, [5]; 6. 8C-Jack Croaker, [2]; 7. 14-Tom Egeland, [8]; 8. 2K-Kevin Ingle, [9]; 9. 4M-Cale Mack, [3]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 2A-Austin Pierce, [3]; 2. 21K-Thomas Kennedy, [9]; 3. 13T-Ty Hanten, [2]; 4. 0-Nick Omdahl, [8]; 5. 99-Jordan Graham, [7]; 6. 24-Jon Sorenson, [1]; 7. 22-Tanner Wisk, [5]; 8. 3M-Marcus Rothenbacher, [4]; 9. 12-Brayden Pengilly, [6]

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Septembe 8, 2017) – ​During intermission, the Late Model revenge draw took place for the top eight drivers in points after the five heat races. Jake Redetzke drew the pole and gave it to AJ Diemel. Diemel then drew the second starting position and returned the favor to Redetzke. Thursday night’s NLRA season finale winner and WISSOTA national point leader, Don Shaw, was given the eighth position.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 8, 2017) – Matt Gilbertson picked up his second career Seitz Memorial WISSOTA Modified win, presented by Schill Construction. Gilbertson led 25 of the 26-lap feature, which honored the late Bobby Gierke. ​

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 8, 2017) – Ricky Hamel crossed the N.D. Eye Clinic start/finish line first at the conclusion of the Happy Harry’s Midwest Modified feature. However, Austin Hunter was granted the win. Hamel’s machine came across the scales 16 pounds under weight, which granted an automatic disqualification. For Hunter, the win marked his second win of the season at River Cities Speedway.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 7, 2017) – The Happy Harry’s Midwest Modified feature got off to a rocky start as Preston Carr looped his machine in turn two and collected five other machines on the opening lap. Joe Henninger, Brock Gronwold and Logan Salazar got caught the worst end of the melee. Gronwold and Carr were both able to continue while Salazar and Henninger were done for the night. ​

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 7, 2017) – Bo Gregor of Lisbon claimed his first career River Cities Speedway win in the Wells Concrete Street Stocks. Gregor started on the outside of the front row for the 20-lap main event with Jeremy Gust of Strathcona, Minn. on the pole. ​

Gregor and Gust battled side by side for the race lead for two consecutive circuits before Gregor cleared Gust on the highside. Gust came storming back to lead lap four, but Gregor found his groove on the highside again to reel him back in and reclaim the point.

Seventh place starter, Ryan Johnson, moved into third on lap five as a five car pack battled for fourth behind him.

Gust stayed persistent on the bottom and reclaimed the lead on lap six. Gregor stayed true to the topside, however, and drove back around Gust the following lap.

Once in open track, Gregor opened up a sizeable advantage over Gust and Johnson. Johnson reeled in Gust with four to go to take second as Gregor cruised to the win by nearly two and a half seconds.

Dan Aberle and Kyle Dykhoff were able to sneak into third and fourth, respectively, as Gust rounded out the top five.

RESULTS:
​A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 2-Bo Gregor, [2]; 2. 25-Ryan Johnson, [7]; 3. 33-Daniel Aberle, [9]; 4. 11-Kyle Dykhoff, [11]; 5. 96-Jeremy Gust, [1]; 6. 70-Jesse Teunis, [19]; 7. 18X-Riley Gregoire, [3]; 8. 3-Steven Richards, [14]; 9. 18B-Adam Burrows, [16]; 10. 48-Chase Boen, [21]; 11. 27P-Tucker Pederson, [5]; 12. 29-Dan McNamee, [17]; 13. 5-Royce Jawaski, [15]; 14. 61-Joe Engels, [12]; 15. 35-John Halvorson, [27]; 16. 7-James Meagher, [18]; 17. 67-Chad Ramsrud, [20]; 18. 27A-Parker Anderson, [22]; 19. 21J-Brian Johanson, [23]; 20. 11P-Jeremiah Porter, [13]; 21. 76P-Olafson Ronald, [8]; 22. 9-Jason Rethemeier, [10]; 23. (DNF) 99-Josh Barker, [24]; 24. (DNF) 105-Terry Blacklance, [6]; 25. (DNF) 00-Dustin Ebensteiner, [26]; 26. (DNF) 32-Jordan Tollakson, [4]; (DNS) 10-Thomas Neihart,

The 11th annual John Seitz Memorial kicks off Thursday, September 7th with the 7th annual "Prelude to the Johnny" featuring the season championship for the Northern Late Model Racing Association! Racing continues with a full Premier Racing Series program on Friday, culminating to the 92-lap, $9,200-to-win Late Model feature honoring former Late Model driver John Seitz on Saturday. ​

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 1, 2017) – ​After finishing second to Mark Dobmeier last week, Chris Ranten led all 25 laps of the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car feature for his second win of the season. Ranten beat Austin Pierce into turn one on the opening lap from the outside of the front row to take the lead. Ranten had no time to get comfortable out front as he caught the tail of the field on lap two.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 1, 2017) – The Performance Auto WISSOTA Late Models put on a wild show during their 20-lap main event. It all began with Bill Mooney checking out from the field in the early going, just to have contact with lapped cars ruin his night. ​

Mooney started on the outside of the front row and opened up a comfortable advantage right at the drop of the green flag. Within several laps, Mooney held nearly a half-lap cushion over NLRA rookie of the year contenders, Travis Robertson and Brody Troftgruben. When Mooney encountered his first lapped car, Bryce Reimer, he suffered severe damage to the right side of his machine. Reimer began to spin just as Mooney was driving by, which resulted in heavy contact between the two drivers.

Mooney kept trucking forward, though, before reaching Nick Minske. In nearly identical fashion, Minske and Mooney made significant contact as well in turn two, which ended Minske’s night and cut down Mooney’s right rear tire.

Mooney’s crew was able to get the tire changed in time for the restart, but he had to rejoin the field at the tail. He would salvage a sixth place finish.

Robertson inherited the lead with 10 laps to go. Robertson held the point with Mike Balcaen and Ricky Weiss breathing down his neck. The final caution was displayed with three laps to go.

On the restart, Weiss moved by Balcaen for second and put Robertson in his crosshairs. On the final lap, Weiss moved to the inside of Robertson for the lead in turn one and the two got together. The contact resulted in a steering component breaking in the left front of Robertson.

Weiss drove away to take the win, as Robertson slowed significantly in turns three and four. Balcaen got into Robertson, which then started a chain reaction wreck at the finish line.

Robertson spun across the line to finish second, as Balcaen, Brad Seng, and Joey Pederson rounded out the top five.

​RESULTS:
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 7W-Ricky Weiss, [7]; 2. 1R-Travis Robertson, [4]; 3. 10-Mike Balcaen, [3]; 4. 12S-Brad Seng, [5]; 5. 7P-Joey Pederson, [6]; 6. 2-Bill Mooney, [2]; 7. F9-Brandon Fuller, [10]; 8. 14-Brody Troftgruben, [1]; 9. 9-Steve Anderson, [15]; 10. (DNF) 345-Bryce Reimer, [14]; 11. (DNF) T1-Tom Corcoran, [13]; 12. (DNF) 71-Dustin Strand, [8]; 13. (DNF) 1M-Nicholas Minske, [12]; 14. (DNF) 4C-Ryan Corbett, [9]; (DNS) 4-Shane Edginton,
​

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 71-Dustin Strand, [1]; 2. 10-Mike Balcaen, [3]; 3. 2-Bill Mooney, [5]; 4. 7W-Ricky Weiss, [8]; 5. 4C-Ryan Corbett, [2]; 6. 4-Shane Edginton, [7]; 7. T1-Tom Corcoran, [6]; 8. 9-Steve Anderson, [4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 12S-Brad Seng, [2]; 2. 14-Brody Troftgruben, [1]; 3. 7P-Joey Pederson, [4]; 4. 1R-Travis Robertson, [7]; 5. F9-Brandon Fuller, [5]; 6. 1M-Nicholas Minske, [3]; 7. 345-Bryce Reimer, [6]

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 1, 2017) – Lapped traffic was the demise of Matt Schow’s solid run in the Happy Harry’s WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature. Schow took the lead over Gary Nelson on the opening lap before departing out to a 10 car length lead over Jeremy Lizakowski.

Schow extended his advantage further before reach the tail of the field. Schow maneuvered past the first lapped cars with little trouble, but he broke his momentum when he reached a pair of cars racing side by side. Schow moved to the inside to make it three wide in turn two, but one of the drivers began to lose the handle on their machine, which forced Schow to stab the brake.

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (September 1, 2017) – Josh Barker jumped out to the early lead of the Wells Concrete WISSOTA Street Stock feature. Barker, of Thompson, N.D., pulled away to a 10 car length lead by lap two as Ron Olafson, Tiffany Noreikis, and John Halvorson battled for second. 

On lap four, Halvorson moved around Noreikis for third and set his sights on Olafson. ​

The Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Cars have now been added to Saturday's program and removed from Thursday's. 

Five premier divisions will now be racing on Saturday; WISSOTA Late Models, NOSA Sprint Cars, Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, and Street Stocks. 

Details about the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car "Blazin' Challenge" will be announced soon. 

By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (August 25, 2017) – Despite threatening skies all round most of the afternoon and evening, River Cities Speedway was able to get the complete night of racing in with no delays. Joey Pederson, Lance Schill, and Ryan Johnson claimed WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series wins, while Mark Dobmeier raced to the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprint Car victory. ​

CLASSES:
Thursday, Sept. 7th:
NLRA Late Models (full show - $1,192 to win)
Sprints (full show)
Midwest Modifieds (full show - $350 to win)
Street Stocks (full show - $500 to win)


Friday, Sept. 8th:
Late Models (heats and $920 to win pole dash)
NOSA Sprints (full show)
Modifieds (full show - $700 to win)
Midwest Modifieds (full show - $500 to win)


Saturday, Sept. 9th:
Late Models (B's, last chance race and $9,200 to win feature)
Modifieds (full show - $920 to win)
Midwest Modifieds (full show - $920 to win)
Street Stocks (full show - $920 to win)

“What a fun night,” said Schatz in victory lane. “I couldn’t feel my car out very well in the sprint car feature. I think I might have been kind of played out after that late model race. Normally running that many laps isn’t too draining, but tonight it was.”

Schatz started fifth on the grid for the 40-lap World of Outlaws A-main. The driver of the Arctic Cat / Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 bided his time for the first 10 circuits before jumping into the second position on lap 11.

From there Schatz set his sights on Kasey Kahne Racing driver Brad Sweet and the two veteran drivers put on a great battle for the lead.

“I was pretty committed to the top and (Sweet) forced me to the bottom to go by him,” continued Schatz. “I used my tires up too much running down low, but I just had to go where he didn’t. I just had to stay patient and wait for lapped traffic. He couldn’t move around in lapped traffic and I was able to get up to the top and do what I needed to do.”

Schatz led the final 20 laps to record his seventh win at River Cities Speedway in the last 10 races.

On Saturday, Schatz will return to his home track at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, where he’ll look to continue his winning streak.

“The atmosphere of being around the hometown fans is something you can’t describe,” Schatz said. “It only happens once a year so it’s really exciting. I can’t wait for Saturday and I hope we can be as good as we were Friday.”

In the NLRA late model feature, Schatz used a mid-race restart to move by Dustin Strand for second and battle Ricky Weiss for the lead. With Weiss up top and Schatz on the low side, the two driver put on a great show as they race for the lead.

With nine to go, Schatz was able clear Weiss down the front straightaway to take the lead. Weiss tried to battle back, but Schatz was too strong in his Fargo Petro / Fastlane Car Wash No. 15.

Schatz pulled away from Weiss in the closing laps as he secured his second consecutive NLRA feature win. Weiss, Brad Seng, Strand, and Shane Edginton rounded out the top five.

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz, [4]; 2. 7W-Ricky Weiss, [3]; 3. 12S-Brad Seng, [8]; 4. 71-Dustin Strand, [5]; 5. 4-Shane Edginton, [19]; 6. T1-Tom Corcoran, [15]; 7. 06-David Smith, [16]; 8. 16S-Jeff Hapala, [24]; 9. 11S-Troy Schill, [17]; 10. 00-Robert Bladow, [12]; 11. 1R-Travis Robertson, [7]; 12. 14-Brody Troftgruben, [13]; 13. 9-Steve Anderson, [22]; 14. 11-Shane Holden, [14]; 15. 11M-Paul Mueller, [18]; 16. 71S-Steffen Snare, [9]; 17. 30-Adam Fischer, [21]; 18. 1M-Nicholas Minske, [20]; 19. F9-Brandon Fuller, [1]; 20. 22-Steve Pankowski, [25]; 21. (DNF) 7P-Joey Pederson, [10]; 22. (DNF) 86-Matthew Smith, [23]; 23. (DNF) Z17-Zach Naastad, [2]; 24. (DNF) 10-Mike Balcaen, [11]; 25. (DNF) 4C-Ryan Corbett, [26]; 26. (DNF) 2-Bill Mooney, [6]


Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7W-Ricky Weiss, [2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, [1]; 3. 1R-Travis Robertson, [3]; 4. 7P-Joey Pederson, [8]; 5. 14-Brody Troftgruben, [4]; 6. 06-David Smith, [7]; 7. 4-Shane Edginton, [9]; 8. 9-Steve Anderson, [5]; 9. (DNF) 22-Steve Pankowski, [6]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. F9-Brandon Fuller, [3]; 2. 2-Bill Mooney, [7]; 3. 71S-Steffen Snare, [4]; 4. 10-Mike Balcaen, [6]; 5. 11-Shane Holden, [2]; 6. 11S-Troy Schill, [5]; 7. 1M-Nicholas Minske, [8]; 8. 86-Matthew Smith, [1]; (DNS) 4C-Ryan Corbett,
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. Z17-Zach Naastad, [1]; 2. 71-Dustin Strand, [6]; 3. 12S-Brad Seng, [5]; 4. 00-Robert Bladow, [3]; 5. T1-Tom Corcoran, [8]; 6. 11M-Paul Mueller, [2]; 7. 30-Adam Fischer, [4]; 8. 16S-Jeff Hapala, [7]

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​By Mike Spieker

GRAND FORKS, ND (August 18, 2017) – Twenty-five year old Watertown, Conn. driver, David Gravel, has been one of the most impressive up-and-comers the World of Outlaws have seen in its youth movement over the last couple of years. Gravel is having a break out season in 2017, compiling 13 victories to date, which is second-most on the Outlaw tour to Donny Schatz.

​Gravel also turned heads last weekend at the Knoxville Nationals by completing a “perfect night” on his qualifying night. Gravel was the fastest driver in time trials and won both his heat race and the feature to earn the pole for Saturday night’s championship feature. In doing so, Gravel became the first driver since Steve Kinser in 1992 to accomplish that feat at Knoxville.

“We were the best car all week,” said Gravel. “On our qualifying night, I was worried about getting a good pill draw for time trials and transferring through my heat race. Thankfully, we were able to do that all with flying colors.”

After preliminary action was complete, Gravel was a favorite entering championship night on Saturday. In the first half of the race, Gravel lived up to the expectations as he led the first 22 circuits. However, a mechanical failure forced him to retire from the event early, dashing his hopes of taking the Knoxville title.

Gravel will look to rebound this weekend in North Dakota.

In the Outlaws’ first visit to River Cities Speedway in June, Gravel held off Kerry Madsen in the closing laps to record his first victory at the bullring. The race was delayed for nearly two hours due to rain, but racing resumed just after midnight on a lightning fast and tacky racing surface.

“That was definitely a unique situation with the weather. Lapped traffic was tough and I slipped up once. Kerry got by me, but I was able to get him back,” recalled Gravel of the battle with Madsen for the lead. “It was cool to get a win there.”

Tonight Gravel will look to join Schatz as the second driver to sweep both World of Outlaws events at River Cities. Schatz swept the season in both 2015 and 2016 and comes into Friday’s event having won six of the last nine Outlaw shows at the bullring.

“If we can win (Friday) at River Cities, that would be great,” continued Gravel. “That’s been Schatz’s track over the years, but we still have a shot at (the championship) this season so we are going to try to kick him off his block and win a bunch more races.”

Tickets for the 2nd Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by American Tire on Friday, August 18 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling 815-344-2023. Tickets can also be purchased at the River Cities Speedway track office, area ticket outlets and at the track on race day.
 
Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

The Ohio native will return to River Cities Speedway this weekend for the 2nd Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by American Tire Service Inc. on Friday, August 18. The event will mark the second and final stop of the season for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at River Cities Speedway.
 
“We always get an awesome race track at Grand Forks,” said Wilson. “It’s really wide and very racy. The fans up there are great, which is very similar to home. I just absolutely love going there. It’s great that we get to go up there a couple of times a year. Grand Forks is a great race track to go to.”
 
Wilson finished among the top-10 in the 1st Leg of the Northern Tour at River Cities Speedway back in June. He worked his way from the 15th starting spot to a 10th-place finish on a track that was very fast and heavy due to rain earlier that evening, which led to a lengthy rain delay, just a few laps into the 40-lap main event. In August of 2016 at River Cities Speedway, Wilson also worked his way forward, coming from the 19th starting spot to finish 11th.
 
“Like any place, anymore, you have to get those first two laps in and qualify decent,” he shared of what it takes to be in contention at River Cities Speedway. “The neat thing about Grand Forks is that is always gets wide and racy. Even if you may not time very good you can still pass race cars. Last time the rain kind of goofed us up. Hopefully this time the weather cooperates and the track gets wide like it usually does.”
 
In just a handful of races with the Outlaws at River Cities Speedway in his career, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner has a pair of top-10 finishes. Wilson made his first trip to Grand Forks in 2012 and returned the next year as well. Since he embarked on the full World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series tour for the first time in his career last year he has made three more starts at the track. With 40 laps as the distance in the main event at River Cities Speedway, traffic will certainly come into play.
 
“It’s super important to have a car that will maneuver at Grand Forks,” Wilson noted. “We sometimes struggle, because where we come from is usually dry/slick. The track there stays decent and races really wide. We have a tendency to get our race car too tight. The last couple of times we have been there, we have left some stagger on the car and made it to where it was maneuverable and we’ve had better runs. That’s real key when you go to a place like that. The experience is important as well, going back to places for the third, fourth and fifth time. That’s definitely starting to help our program.”
 
Prior to heading to the track on race day, Wilson will be on-hand at American Tire Service Inc. at their location on Gateway Drive across from the race track for a Meet & Greet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A ticket giveaway will be part of the festivities. Wilson, who drives the Hercules Tires No. w20, makes numerous appearances each season for the brand, with American Tire Service Inc., being a Hercules dealer.
 
“American Tire has been affiliated with us every time we have gone up to Grand Forks,” he stated. “Curt (Scheevel, owner) and the gang there are great people. We love going and doing an event there. They go to the race track every week. I asked him one time, ‘Curt, what you do guys do up here in Grand Fork?’ He said, ‘We drink beer and go to the races at Grand Forks and in the winter-time we drink beer and go watch hockey.’ These dealer visits are a great time to go and meet fans. Like I said, they have great fans up in Grand Forks.”
 
When it comes to competing full-time with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, the constant travel is one of the toughest challenges that drivers and crews face. Especially, those who have families. For Wilson, his family travels the circuit with him in their toterhome. Having his wife and two girls on the road with him makes all the miles and hours on the road a lot more manageable and more importantly, enjoyable.
 
“With my deal in particular, if my wife and kids couldn’t be out here, I probably wouldn’t be doing it with the tour,” explained Wilson. “I am a pretty a family-oriented guy. With the struggles that come with being out here on the road, my wife and kids are the ones that keep me going when we aren’t running so good. It’s awesome to have my family with me out here and to be involved with so many great people.”
 
Tickets for the 2nd Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by American Tire on Friday, August 18 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling 815-344-2023. Tickets can also be purchased at the River Cities Speedway track office, area ticket outlets and at the track on race day.
 
Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC
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